Parental satisfaction, efficacy, and adverse events in 54 patients treated with cantharidin for molluscum contagiosum infection.
OBJECTIVE
To study the efficacy, tolerability, and parental satisfaction of cantharidin in a patient population at a pediatric dermatology referral center.


METHODS
Chart review was completed for 110 patients who presented with molluscum infection and were treated with cantharidin. A total of 54 were available for follow-up by telephone interview regarding adverse effects, parental satisfaction, and overall clearance of the infection.


RESULTS
Of those who were reachable, 96% improved after treatment with cantharidin. Parental satisfaction was 78%. Patients received an average of 2.2 treatments irrespective of outcome. Overall, 46% of patients experienced adverse events, including pain, pruritus, secondary infection, brisk immune response, and temporary hypopigmentation and 9% experienced an adverse event that they classified as severe.


CONCLUSIONS
The results contribute to the data supporting cantharidin as a safe and effective treatment of molluscum contagiosum. Compared with other treatments, it appears to be equally effective and well-tolerated and should be considered a potential front-line treatment.
Cathcart
Shelley
S
Department of Dermatology, UNC Hospital, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. shelley.cathcart@gmail.com
Coloe
Jacqueline
J
Morrell
Dean S
DS
D000293:Adolescent; D002193:Cantharidin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008976:Molluscum Contagiosum / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D002193:Cantharidin